# 68% of Americans Want to ‘Earn’ Their Way Out of Phone Bill, Survey Finds

- Link: https://www.thailand-business-news.com/pr-news/68-of-americans-want-to-earn-their-way-out-of-phone-bill-survey-finds
- Published: 2026-07-08T05:30:00+07:00
- Author: MarketersMEDIA Newswire

_National consumer survey reveals eroding loyalty to traditional telecoms, new gamification
economy around phone bills_

Singapore, July 7, 2026 /MarketersMEDIA/ —  A new survey from [Circles](https://circles.co/),
the global technology company powering digital telco operators, reveals a powerful“
gamification” opportunity around the monthly phone bill, a trust gap between traditional
mobile carriers and financial institutions and growing consumer openness to mobile
plans offered by banks and retailers. 

_For the full survey findings, visit: _[https://circles.co/in-the-loop/insights-from-us-telco-consumer-survey-2026](https://circles.co/in-the-loop/insights-from-us-telco-consumer-survey-2026)

The survey, conducted in May 2026, polled 1,000 U.S. adults ages 18 and older and
found that the monthly phone bill is emerging as a powerful “gamification” opportunity,
with 68% of Americans finding the idea of earning everyday rewards to offset their
bill appealing. A majority also said they would change their spending behaviors 
and brand choices to make it happen. 

The findings point to a broader trend as telecom providers are facing a trust deficit
with their own customers. Consumers trust their banks nearly three times more than
their mobile carriers with personal data. While the data points to an appetite for
mobile experiences that go beyond connectivity, the trust gap is driving real openness
to non-traditional alternatives, from bank-integrated phone plans to mobile services
bundled into retail loyalty programs. 

“The data from the study is a great validation that consumers are ready for a new
world of perceiving value from their telco connection,” said [Awa](https://sg.linkedin.com/in/awaismalik)
is Malik, Chief Growth Officer at Circles. “In Singapore, Circles’ consumer telco
brand Circles.Life, is already seeing early success with two FinX-powered products:
a semi-open wallet and a cashback card. The program has delivered 5× growth in monthly
transactions per user and a 10× increase in monthly spend, while also contributing
to a 30-point year-on-year increase in customer NPS.”

The survey results further illustrate the scale of the opportunity for mobile providers.
Key findings include:

**Consumer trust and openness to nontraditional providers**

 * **59% of consumers trust their bank most with personal data, versus just 20% 
   who trust their mobile provider and 13% who trust technology companies.**
 * 50% are interested in mobile service from a frequently shopped retailer if it
   included loyalty perks; 38% of consumers would consider switching to a bank’s
   mobile plan if their primary bank offered one.
 * 44% are comfortable with a provider using their mobile usage data to personalize
   financial or shopping offers, compared to 30% who are not.

**What drives switching decisions**

 * 51% say lower monthly cost is the single biggest factor driving a mobile provider
   switch.
 * 38% cite network reliability as their top concern about switching to a nontraditional
   provider, followed by data privacy (36%) and hidden fees (27%).
 * 26% of consumers switched mobile providers in the past two years, compared to
   18% who switched banks and 13% who switched a primary retail brand.

**Appetite for rewards that offset the mobile bill**

 * 68% of consumers find the idea of offsetting their mobile bill through everyday
   spending rewards appealing (30% very, 38% somewhat).
 * 58% say they would actively change their spending behaviors – including which
   brands and platforms they choose, to earn rewards that lower their phone bill.
 * Top categories consumers want to earn bill-reducing rewards from: paying utilities/
   bills (41%), online shopping (37%), dining and food delivery (28%), groceries(
   26%), and subscriptions (22%).

The data reflects broad consumer interest in mobile experiences that extend beyond
connectivity, with cost savings, loyalty rewards and trusted provider relationships
emerging as the defining factors in how Americans think about their mobile plans
today.

**About Circles**

![](https://storage.googleapis.com/mmstudio-images/gallery/t5yg4IxbmtRaeXnn8IxtmCkHa4N2/
89197160-1783436329-1.jpg)

Founded in 2014, Circles is a global technology company reimagining the telco industry
with its innovative SaaS platform, empowering telco operators worldwide to effortlessly
launch innovative digital brands or refresh existing ones, accelerating their transformation
into techcos.

Today, Circles partners with leading telco operators across 14 countries and 6continents,
including KDDI Corporation, Etisalat Group (e&), AT&T, and Telkomsel, creating blueprints
for future telco and digital experiences enjoyed by millions of consumers globally.

Circles is backed by renowned global investors, including Peak XV Partners (formerly
Sequoia), Warburg Pincus, Founders Fund, and EDBI (the investment arm of the Singapore
Economic Development Board), with a track record of backing industry challengers.

For more information, visit www.circles.co.

Contact Info: 
Name: Dhanyasree MuraleedharanEmail: [Send Email](https://send.releasecontact.com/89197160)
Organization: Circles.coWebsite: [http://www.circles.co](http://www.circles.co)

Release ID: 89197160

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**Source** : [68% of Americans Want to ‘Earn’ Their Way Out of Phone Bill, Survey Finds](https://news.marketersmedia.com/68percent-of-americans-want-to-earn-their-way-out-of-phone-bill-survey-finds/89197160?rand=206000)

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